LOCAL parties planning to contest the upcoming Sabah election on their own are out of step with the people’s desire for stability and cooperation, said Kiulu assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Bangkuai said the coalition approach under Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) had proven effective in providing stable, inclusive governance focused on long-term development.
“The GRS government is moving in the same direction as the GPS government in Sarawak, which is formed by local parties representing all races. This approach is the best for Sabah.
“If we look at Sarawak, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu Sarawak (PBB) holds a clear majority but still chooses to work with other parties to jointly develop the state’s socio-economy. Not alone,” he said in Kota Kinabalu.
GRS is an eight-party local coalition, but its strength primarily comes from three key components namely Sabah Star, Parti Bersatu Sabah and Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.
Gagasan, Sabah STAR, and PBS hold the largest share of seats in the state assembly.
Bangkuai was reacting to Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat’s (PKDM) plan to contest independently.
“We do not deny any party’s right to stand on its own, but at the end of the day, the people will judge based on results. Stability can only be achieved when local parties choose to work together, not compete among themselves.
“If we want to bring about a mature political approach, it must be followed by a willingness to work together and compromise. Not move alone and deny collective strength,” he said.
Bangkuai who is information chief for both GRS and PBS, also reminded voters that Warisan and PKDM had previously worked with Pakatan Harapan and UPKO, but the coalition later withdrew its support and aligned with GRS in 2023 to keep the alliance in power.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has in the past cited difficulties in maintaining unity with coalition partners as a reason for pursuing a more independent path.
“Such actions do not reflect leadership that puts people first. They only undermine public confidence and distract from the focus on the development agenda,” Bangkuai said, referring to earlier attempts by Warisan and PKDM to topple the Hajiji-led government with UMNO’s support.
He credited the current GRS administration with improving state finances and delivering social programmes.
Bangkuai said rural development continues to be driven by the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap, including the upgrading of agricultural roads to improve access to farms and villages in Kiulu.
“We acknowledge that more still needs to be done, and we do not deny the existence of challenges such as water, electricity and infrastructure. But we take full responsibility and are committed to moving forward,” he said. - July 20, 2025
